HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Officials from three states
are negotiating with Aon Inc. to settle investigations into
the insurance broker's business practices, Connecticut
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday.

Blumenthal wouldn't describe details of the negotiations,
but said they were being conducted in concert with his
counterparts in Illinois and New York.

"We're in serious talks," Blumenthal said. "They've been
ongoing for some weeks. They're difficult, but promising."

Aon, the nation's second-largest U.S. insurance broker, has
set aside $50 million to settle state investigations into
insurance-broker practices, but last week said it has found no
evidence of bid-rigging or fraud.

Aon officials have said they expect the consequences of
pending investigations to be far less severe than they were
for bigger rival Marsh & McLennan Cos., which last month
settled with New York officials by agreeing to pay $850
million in restitution to clients in California, New York,
Pennsylvania and Texas.

Blumenthal on Tuesday would not compare the Aon
negotiations with his office's investigation of Marsh &
McLennan, which is ongoing.

A call was placed to Chicago-based Aon seeking comment.
Officials for the New York and Illinois attorneys general
declined to comment Tuesday.